Heidi Alexander: “Senator Corker and I have come to the floor having submitted a resolution honoring the life and achievements of Pat…”

“Senator Corker and I have come to the floor having submitted a resolution honoring the life and achievements of Pat Summitt, the former University of Tennessee basketball coach who died this week. She coached for 38 years and became the winningest coach--man or woman--in Division I history. I had the privilege of going to the White House with Coach Summitt in April of 1989. I was president of the University of Tennessee at the time, and she had just won the national championship. President Bush, The first President Bush, recited the usual statistics about Pat Summitt's remarkable coaching career. The President said: ``And in 13 years she brought Tennessee to the final four 10 times, winning it twice.'' This was in 1989, a long time before she retired. ``Later on we're going down to that fountain over there that you all can see, to see if literally she can walk on water.'' That was what President Bush said of Pat Summitt. So when it came time for Coach Summitt to speak--the winningest basketball coach in our country's Division I history--this is what she said: Mr. President, we're honored and delighted to be here. I am extremely proud of our academic success. We have won two national championships in the last 3 years, but the most important statistic for our team and our program is the 100- percent graduation rate, of which we will hold our heads very proudly. Pat Summitt did everything by the book, and she made sure her players did as well.…”